Devices for driving bodies revolving at high speeds, and in particular false twist spindles in crimping machines



April 11, 1967 E. MARCINIAR I 3,313,096

DEVICES FOR DRIVING BODIES REVOLVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND IN PARTICULAR FALSE TWIST SPINDLES IN CRIMPING MACHINES 7 Filed April 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 11, 1967 MARCINIAK 3,313,096 v DEVICES FOR DRIVING BODIES REVOLVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND IN PARTICULAR FALSE TWIST SPINDLES IN CRIMPING MACHINES Filed April 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,313,036 DEVICES FOR DRIVING BODIES REVOLVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND IN PARTICULAR FALSE TWIST SPINDLES IN CRIMPING MACHINES Edmund Marciniak, Vals-les-Bains, France, assignor to Socitex, Lyons, Rhone, France, a society of the Republic of France Filed Apr. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 360,377 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 19, 1963,

. 932,144 6 Claims. (Cl. 5777.45)

The present invention rel-ates to a device for imparting a fast rotation movement to a body of revolution, and in particular to a false twist spindle in a crimping machine for textile yarn. The body of revolution to be driven is supported by two parallel driving circular members adjacent to each other and it is driven by at least one of said members against which it is applied by the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet.

The invention is characterized in that the permanent magnet is in the form of a body of revolution coaxial with at least one of said members and rotating together therewith.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the appended drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows, partly in axial section and partly in elevational view, a driving device for a false twist spindle in a textile yarn crimping machine, said driving device being made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 and illustrating still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view analogous to FIG. 2 showing a modification;

FIG. 6 is a view analogous to FIGS. 2 and 5 and relating to a simplified device according to the invention for driving a plurality of spindles;

n FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of a tubular false twist spindle made according to the invention;

.FIG. 8 is a cross section corresponding to FIG. 7.

In existing textile machines including false twist spindles, the bearings in which the spindles are mounted are not capable of working at speeds of rotation higher than a given limit, whereas the present tendency is to increase this limit speed in order to improve efliciency.

It has been proposed to have the spindle supported by two driving discs 2 and 3 of great diameter, having paral lel respective axes and the respective peripheries of which are sufl'lciently close to each other, or even are made of several discs offset axially and overlapping one another, so that the spindle is supported simultaneously by the peripheries of said discs on which it is thus journalled.

One of the discs may turn freely about its axis and serve merely as support for the spindle, whereas the other transmits the rotation movement.

Use was made of the magnetic field of a permanent magnet to apply the spindle against the driving discs, this magnetic field extending between the spindle and a stationary member mounted between the two driving discs on the frame that supports them.

Such a device, due to the presence of said fixed member, occupies a. considerable volume and on the other hand it gives rise to important Foucault currents which produce a considerable heating.

According to the present invention, in order to obviate these drawbacks the permanent magnet is in the form of a body of revolution coaxial with the driving disc and rotating together with it.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, spindle 1 is supportedby two bearings 10 and 11 consisting of two large diameter discs 10 and 11 (corresponding to the above mentioned discs 2 and 3) mounted on respective shafts 6. One of said shafts is driven through a belt 4.

Spindle 1 is applied against discs 10 and 11 by two permanent magnets 5 each consisting of a sleeve fixed on a shaft 6, respectively, coaxially therewith.

The magnetic flux of each magnet 5 i parallel to the axis of the shaft 6 supporting said disc.

For this purpose, magnet 5 consists of a tube mounted between two rings 7 and 8 of ferro-magnetic material forming pole pieces at the respective ends of said tubular magnet 5. These rings 7 and 8, chamfered at their peripheries, are located respectively opposite collars 12 and 13 of spindle 1 so that the magnetic flux of magnet 5 closes through said collars 12 and 13 and spindle 1. Thus said spindle 1 is magnetically drawn against annular flanges 10 and 11 carried by a sleeve 9 tightly held between each shaft 6 and the corresponding tubular magnet 5. -Sleeve 9 and flanges 10 and 11 are made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, bronze, or a suitable alloy of plastic material.

Thus, when spindle 1 is resting upon flanges 10 and 11, collars 12 and 13 are positioned opposite rings 7 and 8 and maintain, under the influence of the magnetic field of magnet 5, spindle 1 in the position it occupies. Said spindle 1 is thus prevented from moving in the axial direction with respect to discs 2 and 3 during the operation of the machine.

According to another embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 3, rings 7,, and 8 are of a diameter greater than that of flanges 10,, and 11 and serve directly to support spindle 1 For this purpose, said spindle 1 is provided with collars 12,, and 13 located at a distance from each other greater than the distance between rings 7,, and 8,, on which the spindle is beating.

According to a modification, shown in dot-and-dash lines, there is a single collar 14, preferably of a non magnetic material, located between rings 7 and 8 This embodiment (FIG. 3) has the advantage of avoiding the existence, between the permanent magnet and tube 1 of any gap reducing the magnetic force with which tube 1,, is kept applied against the peripheries of the discs.

According to still another modification, illustrated by FIG. 4, each of the bearings of spindle 1 consistsof a .part 15 of non magnetic material surrounding the corresponding magnet 5 between'rin'gs 7 and 8 this part 15 having a diameter greater than that of said rings.

On either side of part 15, spindle 1 is provided with a collar 12,,, 13 The axial distance between these collars is greater than the width of part 15 and corresponds to the distance between rings 7 and 8;, so that, when spindle 1 rotates on its single rolling path 15, collars 12 and 13,, are located opposite rings 7,, and 8 respectively, under the efiect of'the magnetic field which, from these rings, closes through spindle 1 and collars 12 and 13,,.

Part 15 may consist of a sleeve of plastic material force fitted on a ring 16 of a non magnetic metal bearing upon shoulders provided in rings 7 and 8 Ring 16 is held, together with magnet 5, between rings 7,, and 8 through flanges 10 and 11 flange 10,, being integral with sleeve 9,, on which flange 11 is slidable. Said flange 11 is pushed toward the left *by two nuts 17 screwed on sleeve 9 In some cases, it may be advantageous to provide, at the periphery of the rings such as 7 and 8 and of the collars such as 12 and 13 (or in the embodiment of FIG. 3, directly upon spindle 1 magnetic reluctance areas which vary cyclically along the periphery respectively of the disc and of the spindle, which areas may be created either by a local removal of ferro-magnetic material or by the insertion of portions of non magnetic material as shown for instance at 18 in FIG. 5

Owing to the fact that no cumbersome fixed permanent magnets are used, it is possible thus to drive, through a relatively small number of discs 2 and 3, a great number of spindles 1. For instance, as shown by FIG. 6, it is possible by means of only six discs 2 or 3, to drive fourteen tubular spindles 1.

-C0ncerning more particularly tubular spindle 1, it is advantageous, as shown by FIGS. 7 and 8, to fix at the end thereof an extension provided with a slot 19 in which is fitted a diametral cross member 20 provided with a V- shaped notch 21 the bottom of which is located along the axis of rotation of said tubular spindle. Owing to this notch it is possible to ensure a perfect centering, with respect to the spindle, of the yarn 22 to be treated by causingsaid yarn to pass around cross member 20 along the bottom of the notch 21 thereof.

A yarn crimping machine according to the present invention has, over machines of the same kind including in the magnetic circuit thereof a fixed member for keeping the spindles applied against their driving discs, many advantages and in particular the following ones:

There is a considerable reduction of the volume occupied by the machine, which may permit of replacing, in existing machines, the direct drive spindles by spindles and driving discs according to the present invention;

The heating of the spindle is greatly reduced, which permits of reducing the wear and tear of spindles of this type and to improve the quality of the yarn that is obtained;

The power necessary for driving the spindles is greatly reduced; and

Thedrive is much more efficient, especially when every disc is provided with its own magnet and the risks of slipping are greatly reduced.

In a general manner, While the above description discloses what are deemed to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, said invention is not limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for driving at high speed a spindle of a term-magnetic material, which comprises, in combination, two parallel circular members having their respective axes parallel to the axis of revolution of said spindle and forming bearings for said spindle, means including one of said members, for driving said spindle in rotation about its axis, at least one tubularpermanent magnet coaxial with one of said members and fixed with respect thereto, and two rings of a ferromagnetic material fixed at the respective ends of said tubular magnet coaxially therewith, said rings having. an outer diameter greater than that of said tubular magnet and constituting magnetic pole pieces for it, said rings extending toward said spindle to close, together therewith, a magnetic circuit for urging said'spindle against said circular members.

2. A device for driving at high speed a spindle of a ferro-magnetic material, which comprises, in combination, two parallel circular members having their respective axes parallel to the axis of revolution of said spindle, at least one tubular permanent magnet coaxial with one of said members and fixed with respect thereto, two rings of aferro-magnetic material fixed at the respective ends of said tubular magnet coaxially therewith, said rings having an outer diameter greater than that of said tubular magnet and constituting magnetic pole pieces for it, said rings extending into contact with said spindle to close, together therewith, a magnetic circuit for urging said spindle against said circular members, the rings of both of said members forming bearings for said spindle, and means, including one of said rings, for driving said spindle about its axis.

3. A device for driving at high speed a spindle of a term-magnetic material, which comprises, in combination, two parallel circular members of non magnetic material having their respective axes parallel to the axis of revolution of said spindle, each of said members including a pair of flanges forming bearings for said spindle, means,'including one of said members, for driving said spindle in rotation about its axis, at least one tubular permanent magnet coaxial with one of said members and fixed with respect thereto, two rings of a term-magnetic material fixed at the respective ends of said tubular magnet coaxially therewith, said rings being located between the flanges of said two pairs, said rings having an outer diameter. greater than that of said tubular magnet and constituting magnetic pole pieces for it, and two collars carried by said spindle coaxially therewith at an axial distance from each other equal to the distance between'said two rings, said two collars cooperating with said two rings to form, together therewith, a magnetic circuit for urging said spindle against said circular members.

4. A device for driving at high speed a spindle of a. 'ferro-magnetic material, which comprises, in com-bination, two collars carried by said spindle coaxially therewith at an axial distance from each other, two parallel annular members having their respective axes parallel to the axis of revolution of said spindle and forming bearings for said spindle between said collars, means, including one of said members, for driving said spindle in rotation about its axis, at least one tubular permanent magnet coaxially located inside one of said members and fixed with respect thereto, two rings of a ferro-magnetic material fixed at the respective ends of said tubular magnet coaxially therewith, said rings having an outer diameter greater than that of said tubular magnet and constituting magnetic pole pieces for it, said rings extending toward said spindle opposite said collars, respectively, to close together therewith, a magnetic circuit extending through said spindle for urging it against said annular members.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cooperating ferro-magnetic portions located respectively on said spindle and on said magnet have magnetic'reluctance areas varying cyclically along their periphery.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said spindle is provided with a slot at one of its ends, further corn-' prising a substantially dia metral cross member provided with a V-shaped notch, the bottom of the V extending substantially along the axis of rotation of said spindle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,428 11/1901 Heinze s7 77 x 2,167,641 8/1939 Dewan a 57-103 X 2,855,750 10/1958 Schrenk et al 5777 X 3,059,408 10/1962 Hippe et al. 57--77 3,142,953 8/1964 Gassner et al. 57--77 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,319 3/1961 Great Britain.

908,113 10/1962 Great Britain.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED A SPINDLE OF A FERRO-MAGNETIC MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, TWO PARALLEL CIRCULAR MEMBERS HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE AXES PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF REVOLUTION OF SAID SPINDLE AND FORMING BEARINGS FOR SAID SPINDLE, MEANS INCLUDING ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, FOR DRIVING SAID SPINDLE IN ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, AT LEAST ONE TUBULAR PERMANENT MAGNET COAXIAL WITH ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND FIXED WITH RESPECT THERETO, AND TWO RINGS OF A FERROMAGNETIC MATERIAL FIXED AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MAGNET COAXIALLY THEREWITH, SAID RINGS HAVING AN OUTER DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID TUBULAR MAGNET AND CONSTITUTING MAGNETIC POLE PIECES FOR IT, SAID RINGS EXTENDING TOWARD SAID SPINDLE TO CLOSE, TOGETHER THEREWITH, A MAGNETIC CIRCUIT FOR URGING SAID SPINDLE AGAINST SAID CIRCULAR MEMBERS. 